National Geographic is proud to bring you the new film Flying Monsters 3D, opening in North America on October 7th. This cutting-edge film profiles the extraordinary creatures that soared the skies some 220 million years ago: pterosaurs.

Join Sir David Attenborough, writer and narrator of the film, for a LIVE interview on NPR’s “Talk of the Nation: Science Friday” today, September 30 at 2 pm ET. Attenborough and host Ira Flatow will discuss the North American launch of “Flying Monsters 3D,” some of the recent findings surrounding pterosaurs, and Sir David’s illustrious career.

Pterosaurs were the first backboned animals that could fly, says Attenborough. They could have up to a 40-foot wingspan and be “as large as a giraffe.” Originally reptiles (the name means “winged lizard”), these creatures took flight when dinosaurs were already well established on Earth.

How can we know what pterosaurs looked like?

“The amount of fossils that have been found from pterosaurs can fill the back of a small van,” says Attenborough. That’s not much to go on, but through intensive research and collaboration with experts, the filmmakers were able to determine the likely skin color and function of various body parts. Pterosaurs had brightly colored skin, probably a drawing card during courtship.

Are pterosaurs similar to birds?

They do share some behavioral similarities, such as forming partnerships and living in close colonies. But pterosaurs did not have feathers or wingbeats like modern birds. Some species of the pterosaur had a membrane between their legs to increase the surface of their wingspan, helping them soar.

What caused pterosaurs to die out?

No one knows for sure, but Attenborough thinks the rise of birds may have contributed to pterosaurs’ extinction in the late Cretaceous period. “The birds and pterosaurs actually overlapped in time. When birds came to be, they could run around on the ground much more easily than the pterosaur, getting to food quicker,” he says.

Comments

Jack Mutabacho

Nairobi Kenya

October 1, 2011, 9:39 am

dying 2 see the documentary

Jay Aldana

Philippines

September 30, 2011, 1:30 pm

Hi, I just have a story to tell you. Back in 1991 or at the time when Mt. Pinatubo erupted ash-falls and rain covered the country. Around 4pm I went outside our house to see what has happened and when I looked up I saw this 2 huge birds gliding against the rain,wind and ashes , (I say huge because they were flying pretty high and yet they still looked big) 20 years after I’m still wondering what kind of bird could it be, I doubt if it was an eagle,cause the rain was pouring that day(can eagles fly despite heavy rains? Can they fly even with wet feathers?)anyway, I was thinking maybe these birds are prehistoric, you know the kind were people considered them extinct already. maybe they lived in Mt. Pinatubo and when it erupted it scared them that’s why they came out.. Hmm, I wonder.

Marian

Hlohovec, Slovakia, Europe

September 30, 2011, 12:56 pm

Haven’t seen a more interesting video yet! Excellent job and work you are doing, guys! Thanks.

Douglas Mappin

United States

September 30, 2011, 12:02 pm

Kill, Turu! Kill!

Ima Ryma

September 22, 2011, 2:42 am

Pterosaur, a flying reptile
On Earth millions of years ago.
Sir Conan Doyle first cast me vile
In his “The Lost World” – what a show!
But I don’t get featured as much
As my cousins the dinos do.
So lots of times I’m out of touch.
My starring role is overdue.
Sir Attenborough thought of me,
Though a bit tipsy at the time.
The film, Flying Monsters 3D,
At last puts me in light of lime.

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